A sports management degree can set you up for an exciting career on the business side of sports. Plenty of schools offer these programs – so many that it’s hard to know where to look first. At the same time, it’s an important decision because the school you choose will impact what you learn and what job prospects you can find after graduation.
But we have good news: You don’t have to search alone. In this article, we’ll tell you about 10 of the top American colleges with the best sports management degree programs and provide some insight into what kind of jobs you can get with a sports management degree.
10 best sports management colleges in the U.S.
Here are 10 of the best colleges for sports management. We’ll give you a few general facts about each school and tell you more about each one’s on-campus sports management degree programs.
Rice University
Rice University is a private college located in Houston, Texas. They enroll just over 4,000 undergraduate students each year from a group representing only 9% of applicants. Tuition costs a little more than $52,000 each year, and 94% of students graduate within six years.
Rice’s Department of Sports Management offers a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Sports Management with a concentration in Sports Law or Sports Leadership. They also introduced a BA in Sports Analytics in 2022.
Both degrees received accreditation from the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), and both degrees will prepare you for a terrific career in sports business administration, business management, or sports finance.
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI is a top-ranked public university with more than 32,000 students enrolled in an undergraduate program. They admit 20% of applicants, and in-state tuition averages around $16,000 each year, while out-of-state tuition is just over $53,000.
Michigan’s sports management major will teach you about the social, economic, and operational implications of business within sports. While you take classes, you’ll have an opportunity to put your skills to work in Michigan’s various athletics programs.
The University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas (UT) at Austin is home to almost 41,000 undergraduate students. Their admission rate is 29%, and in-state students pay around $12,000 each year. Out-of-state tuition is closer to $41,000.
UT offers a sports management degree with accreditation from the SACSCOC to help sports management students get ready for careers within the sports and entertainment industries. Potential specializations include coaching, community health and wellness, and health fitness instructor.
University of Florida
The University of Florida in Gainesville, FL is a public university with almost 35,000 undergraduate students and they admit 30% of applicants. In-state tuition is only just over $6,000, and out-of-state tuition is also reasonable at around $29,000 per year.
As a sports management major at the University of Florida, you’ll learn how to apply concepts from management and marketing to real-world sports contexts. You’ll also be ready to pursue a job within amateur or college sports (or even with a professional sports team).
University of Miami
Located in Coral Gables just outside of Miami, the University of Miami is a private college with around 12,000 undergraduate students. They admit 28% of applicants. As a private school, both in-state and out-of-state students pay the same average tuition rate of just over $54,000 each year.
The University of Miami offers a Bachelor of Science in Education in Sport Administration to help prepare students for future careers in sports. They are committed to helping students find opportunities in sports settings and environments to provide opportunities for hands-on learning and development.
Texas A&M University – College Station
Texas A&M University is a large public school in College Station, TX. They enroll almost 57,000 undergraduate students each year, and that’s 64% of the students who apply. In-state tuition is just over $13,000, while out-of-state tuition nearly narrowly exceeds $40,000.
Texas A&M provides a Bachelor of Science in Sports Management with accreditation from the SACSCOC. Their goal is to help students prepare to work in athletic administration during their sports management career. Each student completes a research project or an internship before wrapping up their degree.
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private four-year college in Dallas, Texas with around 7,000 undergraduate students. They admit 53% of applicants and charge an average tuition cost of about $60,000.
Their sports management undergraduate concentration will help you understand the key principles to succeed in this sports sector. You’ll learn about career paths such as sports marketing, public relations, and athlete representation.
Florida State University
Over 33,000 undergraduate students attend Florida State University (FSU), where the average in-state tuition is less than $6,000 and out-of-state tuition is under $19,000.
FSU offers a Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management and allows you to tailor the program to your specific interests. Once you finish your degree, you’ll be ready to find an entry-level sports management job or start your graduate coursework.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens is home to over 30,000 undergraduate students. They admit 40% of applicants. In-state tuition is around $12,000, while out-of-state tuition is about $31,000 per year.
UGA offers a Bachelor of Science in Education (B.S.Ed.) with a major in Sport Management, which prepares students for careers in the sports industry. The curriculum covers areas such as sport marketing, finance, law, and event management. Students also have opportunities for internships with UGA’s athletic department, professional sports teams, and sport-related businesses in the Athens area.
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh is home to more than 26,000 undergraduate students, representing roughly 47% of applicants. In-state tuition is around $9,000, while out-of-state tuition costs almost $30,000.
NCSU’s Bachelor of Science in Sports Management teaches students about the impact of sports in social, economic, and political contexts. Students take classes in recreation, accounting, kinesiology, leadership, and sports communication to prepare for a career in the sports industry.
Honorable mentions
Although these schools didn’t make the list above, they’re well worth looking into if you want to pursue a career in sports management:
- Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
- University of South Carolina (Columbia, South Carolina)
- New York University (New York City, New York)
- Indiana University (Bloomington, Indiana)
- University of Massachusetts – Amherst (Amherst, Massachusetts)
What jobs can you get with a sports management degree?
Getting a degree in sports management will open up several possible career options for you. Here are a few of the most popular paths for sports management graduates after completing school:
- Sports event coordinator. You’ll be in charge of planning, preparing, and coordinating events in a sports facility or for a particular sports organization. Your job is to oversee event management and make sure the event goes well at every level.
- Sports marketing coordinator. You’ll spend time building campaigns to engage fans and keeping up with sports industry trends to make sure your efforts are as effective as possible.
- Fitness manager. You could oversee a fitness center or gym, hire and manage personal trainers, and make sure that all gym operations run smoothly.
- Public relations manager. You might represent individual athletes or entire sports teams, and your primary role could be to make sure they develop and maintain a positive image within the community.
- Athletic director. You could work at a high school or college and be in charge of overseeing all sports teams and athletic operations.
Other possibilities include working as a sports agent, contract negotiator, facilities manager, sports business development manager, or marketing manager. Some graduates may look for job opportunities in exercise science or sports psychology.
You could also pursue a master’s degree in sports management from a graduate program if you want to continue your education after getting your bachelor’s degree.
Which degree is best for sports management?
The best degree for sports management typically depends on your career goals and interests within the field. However, a Bachelor’s degree in Sports Management is generally considered the most direct path. This degree provides a solid foundation in both business principles and sports-specific knowledge.
Some key advantages of a Sports Management degree include:
- Specialized curriculum. These degrees offer courses tailored to the sports industry, covering topics like sports marketing, event management, and sports law.
- Industry connections. Many programs offer internships and networking opportunities with sports organizations, giving students valuable real-world experience.
- Versatility. The skills learned in these programs can be applied to many roles in the sports industry, making graduates adaptable to various career paths.
- Career readiness. Thanks to their specialized knowledge and practical experience, graduates will be well-prepared for entry-level positions in sports organizations.
A Master’s degree in Sports Management or an MBA with a sports concentration can be beneficial for those aiming for higher-level positions or academic careers.
Ultimately, the best degree is one that aligns with your specific career aspirations and provides opportunities for practical experience in the sports industry.
How to choose the best sports management college
Obviously, you have plenty of options when choosing a school. Knowing how to make a final decision about where to go to school can be a tall order. Here are a few steps that will help make the process easier:
- Make a list of all your options. You probably already have a few schools in mind, so get all the information out of your head and down onto a piece of paper or a note on your phone. Don’t worry if it’s a long list – you’ll start crossing off schools as you move forward through these steps.
- Prioritize your wants and needs. Choosing a school will impact you more than anyone else, so it’s perfectly fine to be picky and prioritize your wants and needs. Be honest with yourself (and others) about what you’re looking for in a school.
- Visit campuses. After you narrow down your list to a few top choices, make plans to visit the schools in person. You’ll have a chance to experience the school for yourself while also meeting with professors and admissions counselors face-to-face.
- Check financial aid offers. College can be very expensive, and if graduating with little to no debt is a priority for you, then you’ll want to take your time researching scholarships and financial aid offers.
